Getting around · Curaçao
Getting around Curaçao
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dolly442, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Willemstad is walkable, but the beaches, national parks and west end are spread across a 60-km island with limited public transport, so most visitors rent a car. Taxis and tours fill the gaps. Yes, for most stays.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Car
- Airports
- CUR
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Car
Renting a car is the most practical way to explore the coves of Banda Abou, Christoffel and Shete Boka; roads are generally good and driving is on the right.
Leave nothing visible in a parked car at beaches.
Walking
Punda, Otrobanda, Scharloo and Pietermaai are all walkable, connected by the Queen Emma Bridge and the high Queen Juliana Bridge for cars.
Bus
Large public buses and smaller privately run 'bus' vans leave from terminals in Punda and Otrobanda for different parts of the island, but services to the west end are infrequent.
Taxi
Taxis have no meters but use set rates for common routes; agree the fare before departure, especially in the evening.
Ask your hotel to call a taxi for late-night returns.
Ferry
When the Queen Emma Bridge opens for shipping, free pedestrian ferries cross the Sint Anna Bay between Punda and Otrobanda.
Boat
Boat trips to Klein Curaçao and snorkelling cruises leave from Spanish Water, Caracas Bay and Jan Thiel.
From the airport
Curaçao International Airport (CUR) at Hato is about 12 km northwest of Willemstad, roughly 15–20 minutes by taxi or rental car. Most car-hire companies have desks at or near the airport.
Do you need a car?
Yes, for most stays. A car is the easiest way to reach the beaches and parks of the west end; without one, you rely on taxis, tours and infrequent buses.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Klein Curaçao | About 1.5–2 hours by boat each way | Day cruise from Spanish Water or Jan Thiel |
| Banda Abou beach drive | About 45–60 minutes by car each way | Rental car |
| Spanish Water and Caracas Bay | About 20 minutes by car | Rental car or taxi |
| Bonaire | About 30 minutes by plane | Short regional flight |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Curaçao?
Yes, for most stays. A car is the easiest way to reach the beaches and parks of the west end; without one, you rely on taxis, tours and infrequent buses.
+How do you get from the airport to Curaçao?
Curaçao International Airport (CUR) at Hato is about 12 km northwest of Willemstad, roughly 15–20 minutes by taxi or rental car. Most car-hire companies have desks at or near the airport.
+What is the best way to get around Curaçao?
Car: Renting a car is the most practical way to explore the coves of Banda Abou, Christoffel and Shete Boka; roads are generally good and driving is on the right.